What happened
A witness observed an airplane flying at a very low altitude toward the Cartersville Airport in Cartersville, Georgia, when she heard the engine quit. The observer then saw the aircraft nose down and crash into trees. Personnel at the Cartersville Airport noted that the aircraft failed to contact them on the Unicom frequency prior to the accident.
The airplane impacted a wooded field located approximately 1.6 miles northeast of the airport. The force of the impact destroyed the aircraft, resulting in debris being scattered for roughly 700 feet along a southeast heading. The wreckage caused several large diameter trees to be broken or cut, with various aircraft components remaining lodged in the branches of nearby trees. Following the crash, residents living near the field reported a strong odor of fuel.
The investigation
Investigators conducted a teardown inspection of the engine and found no discrepancies that existed prior to the impact. Similarly, the inspection of the airframe revealed no pre-impact discrepancies. Additionally, autopsy and toxicology reports were non-conclusive.